Whitmer eases rules on fuel blends to quell rising gas prices
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday issued an executive order declaring an energy emergency in the state amid rising fuel prices prompted by the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following story has been republished with permission from Michigan Advance.
By Kyle Davidson
Michigan Advance
LANSING — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday issued an executive order declaring an energy emergency in the state amid rising fuel prices prompted by the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran.
The order eases requirements on certain fuel blends, allowing for the sale of higher vapor pressure gasoline, which Whitmer’s office says is typically 10 to 20 cents cheaper.
“Right now, countless Michigan families are struggling with rising costs on the essentials, from groceries to gas,” Whitmer said in a statement. “As governor, I can’t end a war overseas or undo bad policies at the federal level that led to higher gas prices, but I will do what I can to try to give families a break. To provide relief, I’m issuing an executive order taking a few actions with one aim: saving drivers money at the pump.”
Specifically, the order suspends requirements for lower-vapor-pressure gasoline in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Livingston, Monroe, St. Clair, and Lenawee counties, aimed at preventing ozone formation in the summer months. Whitmer’s office says the move will bring savings to five million Michigan residents, nearly half the state’s population.
The order brings the state in line with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s move to temporarily waive vapor pressure requirements, allowing for the production, distribution and sale of different gasoline blends.
Prior to the strikes on Iran that launched the war, the average gas price in Michigan was $2.99 a gallon. However, the war has disrupted the global oil market, with Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a key fuel shipping corridor. As of April 2, the average gas price in the state was $3.89.
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